1. Gio Gonzalez vs. Matt Holliday

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Matchup

Gio Gonzalez enjoyed a breakout season with the Washington Nationals.

In his first year with the team, and his first season in the NL, Gonzalez led this team with a 21-8 record, a WHIP of 1.13 and an ERA of 2.89. He finished with the fourth-best strikeout numbers in the league with 207.

Now in his ninth year in the major leagues, Cardinals left fielder Matt Holliday is still at the top of his game. He hit .295, had 27 home runs and finished seventh in the National League in both RBI and runs scored.

Head-to-Head

With Gonzalez having spent most of his career in the American League, Holliday has only seen him three times. In those three at-bats, the Cardinals outfielder has yet to get a hit.

X-Factor

Gonzalez's curve ball is an absolutely nasty and deceptive pitch. He has thrown it with consistency against both right- and left-handed hitters.

His curveball has set him apart from his competitors and has made him one of the best left-handed pitchers in all of baseball.